Forrest Friske

Forrest Dean Friske, 80, passed away suddenly at his home in Columbia Falls on Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2009. Our hearts are heavy with the loss of a husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and brother.

Forrest was born in Bonners Ferry, Idaho, on June 15, 1928, to Fred and Gunda Friske, and grew up in Half Moon, along with his seven siblings. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1947 and served until 1953, of which he was very proud and thankful for.

Forrest then returned to the Flathead Valley and began working at Plum Creek Lumber Co. stickering (manually) loading boxcars of lumber.

In 1954, he met his future bride and married Jane Olson, daughter of Roy and Effie Olson of Whitefish.

He continued to work for Plum Creek while raising his family and was instrumental in construction at the PC Arden mill and the CF MDF Plant, retiring as CF Plywood maintenance superintendent. Forrest’s blood was true Plum Creek Purple throughout his years of employment. He was an extremely hard worker and a great provider to his family, even in the hard and lean years. He instilled a hard-work ethic into his children, and for that his family thanks him immensely.

Forrest loved the great Montana outdoors of hunting, fishing and camping, especially in the South Fork. He, Jane and his in-laws built a cabin in the ’60s at Hienrude Creek in the South Fork, later purchasing a camper and then a motor home which brought wonderful outings in Montana with family and friends.

His skills of woodworking, tinkering in the shop, his daily treadmill walk, his thirst for reading history books, and being his special friend’s right hand man kept him busy during retirement winters.

Forrest was preceded in death by his parents; brother, James; and sisters, Joyce Dexter, Marjorie Richards and Wilma Ferdinand.

He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Jane, and their three children, Tanna Friske and Tim and wife, Phyllis Friske, of Columbia Falls, and Tina Friske and husband, Bill Berg, of Marion; grandchildren, Justin, Josharry and Jonathon Cheff, Sarah and Nick Friske, and Erin DeLeonard and Bryan Berg. He is also survived by brother, Kenneth Friske, of Columbia Falls; sisters, June and husband, Dale Barr, of Columbia Falls, and Barbara and husband, Dick Ott, of Kalispell; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Memorials may be sent to the Columbia Falls Library to help others enrich their lives through reading, or the Columbia Falls Fire or Ambulance Department.

A remembrance and celebration of Forrest’s life was scheduled for 1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 17, at Columbia Mortuary in Columbia Falls.

A private interment will be held this summer when the sun is shining in the South Fork of the Flathead Valley.